2021.12.06 Mini CNC Lathe Overview

When hobbyists want to experience a machine that can do twice the work they do manually, it's common to retrofit a mini CNC lathe from a regular lathe. Usually these are small machines with a lot of power but can be placed on a desktop or workbench at home.

CNC Mini Lathes are a great option for anyone who wants to experiment with what these machines will do, inventors or those who specialize in making models. CNC mini lathes are generally suitable for metalworking and manufacturing of small parts that require precision fabrication. Generally, individuals start with a small lathe they buy and convert it to CNC.

Most miniature lathes are smaller versions of the small lathes used in commercial stores, but they may not be the same design as those used strictly for woodworking. Micro lathes are capable of shaping plastic, wood and other materials. One of the nice features is that manufacturers are constantly developing new features, so it has become easier to convert them to CNC over the years.

Mini lathes usually come in three sizes: 7x10, 7x12 and 7x14. Each is measured by its length as it swings through the lathe. Today, you can also find 9x models. There are many benefits to retrofitting a typical small lathe to include a CNC.

Many of the plans you can find on the Internet allow both manual and CNC capabilities in conversions, because sometimes when individuals use the machine, they may choose to perform certain processes manually. At other times, they may want to use CNC capabilities to produce repetitive parts or parts that require a lot of manual time.

Converting to CNC also allows you to generate 2D and 3D contours, which is not available when you are only machining a lathe by hand. All you have to do is program the computer to create the part you need. You can make the mold out of wood plastic or metal, and use the CNC part to make the mold, you can use it as many times as you want because it creates the perfect mold. You can do multi-hole drilling by creating the overall diameter and then programming it into the computer; from then on, the CNC lathe does the job.

When converting to CNC, it generally takes one to two weekends to complete the conversion; however, plans will vary depending on what you want your CNC small lathe to do. You can usually buy a plan with pictures and step-by-step instructions for around $50.

To convert to CNC, you need to know CAD or CAM software, as these are currently the types of software used in CNC micro lathes. Usually you can control the lathe directly from your PC because the software was created to run that way. In general, it seems that you can do this conversion for under $2000.